Tracking the Flash – the Fastest Man Alive

WB: Big, Dark Super-Hero Films On the Way

Inspired by the wild success of The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. is going to be trimming its low-end movie production and focusing on the big tentpole films, the Wall Street Journal reports. So where to DC’s super-heroes stand?

With “Batman vs. Superman” and “Justice League” stalled, Warner Bros. has quietly adopted Marvel’s model of releasing a single film for each character, and then using those movies and their sequels to build up to a multicharacter film. “Along those lines, we have been developing every DC character that we own,” [Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff] Robinov says.

Like the recent Batman sequel — which has become the highest-grossing film of the year thus far — Mr. Robinov wants his next pack of superhero movies to be bathed in the same brooding tone as “The Dark Knight.” Creatively, he sees exploring the evil side to characters as the key to unlocking some of Warner Bros.’ DC properties. “We’re going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it,” he says. That goes for the company’s Superman franchise as well.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

While I hope they don’t go too dark with The Flash, I’m glad to hear that they’re pulling away from the light near-comedy suggested by the choices of Shawn Levy and later David Dobkin as director.

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About Kelson

Kelson has been reading comics since he was eight, starting with DC and moving out toward indies. He started reading The Flash in 1987, and has since tracked down all of the Silver Age and more Golden Age Flash comics than he expected. He ran the fan reference site, Flash: Those Who Ride the Lightning for 15 years.

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12 thoughts on “WB: Big, Dark Super-Hero Films On the Way”

You could do a pretty dark story with The Flash, like when the origin of Zoom who then causes Linda to miscarry the twins. But, like you, I’d much rather see something a bit lighter. The Flash always comes down to being a love story between Wally and Linda (well, at least since they got serious). Oh, I forget the name of the story arc but there was one where Wally bounced around in the future until making his way back to the present. That could be a really fun film.

“Race Against Time?” It’s a bit sprawling, but it could work as a crazy sci-fi adventure. But then you get into the question of why it should be about the Flash specifically, and not just anyone who can time travel.

I have to disagree with both of you there. For one thing we should not jump into the series with Wally and Linda married and expecting, maybe that would work for a sequel, but for the first flash movie they should have it as linda as a love interest, then towards the end wally and linda get together, or something else like that.

And race against time would possibly work as a sequel, but we should introduce keystone and centeral city and things like that before we do anything like that. Also if we had that as the plot of the first one movie goers might think of Wally more as a time traveler than a speedster. They should do something were wally gets his speed by visiting barry at the lab, and at that time Barry is the the flash, then we fast foward years later after barry has died and no one has seen the flash for years. Wally decides to take the mantle after he realizes that he has super speed. The rogues who are in Iron heights want revenge against the flash, but no one has seen him in years. Then all of a sudden the Flash reappears (This being Wally). So the rogues devise a plan to break out and get revenge against the man who locked them away.

To me, an origin story introduces the character, the setting, the supporting characters, and the means to which the person came to their superpower(s). It shows them making the adjustment from regular person to superpowered-person.

I think the need is different with different characters. Superman and Batman benefit from origin stories. Wonder Woman definitely would, too. Their origins define their outlook and the way they go about being a hero.

I don’t think Wally, (or Hal Jordan for that matter, although I love his origin), needs it. I’m not saying it’s not fun or useful, just that it’s not completely necessary for a movie. It’d be easy enough to have a voice over at the beginning of the movie mention the accident in the lab. Wally doesn’t have a particular “I am vengeance!” or “I am for Justice!” He fights criminals because they’re criminals and he is powerful enough to take them on.

I’m not saying an origin story wouldn’t be fun or do well. I’m just saying, you could skip it and dive right into two hours of battling Gorilla Grodd.

they could do an origin like they did for the incredible hulk… have it during the opening credits and then start into the movie. i would prefer just barry allen personaly but i understand since wally is in the comics they’ll keep with him.

I would like to see ryan reynolds play the flash, perhaps especially if it were the west version, however, if they were to go more with Barry Allen, I would rather see someone like Josh hartnick play the role. If they go west and cant get reynolds then I would look to a person like topher Grace only put him on protein shakes and some real excercise to bulk up some and then lean that muscle out.
Topher did great as venom could do great as wally west if reynolds osnt chosen.
As for the the roles I would prefer Barry allen and I would love to see Josh hartnick play barry and Meagan Fox as iris, I would love to see a story line using the trickster or captain cold.
Anyway i would like a great script and dont let brett ratber abywhere near that.